I wonder if there could be an option for GMs to be able re-number the post numbers in a thread.  It might be a means to self-help to fix a thread if you had a browser hiccup that created a duplicate of a particular post number.  It also might be useful to clean up an older thread that has had significant editing done to it.  It also could be useful if a thread went over the 1000 post maximum for show all, the GM could move several posts to a different thread and then delete the extras and 'renumber it'.  It could be place in the Edit Thread page, and could carry a warning to realize that renumbering could cause mentions of specific posts no longer accurate after the renumbering.

Another option to fix double-posting would be to have it jump to a confirmation that would allow you to delete both #5 posts, or simply have it delete the first one, leaving the second for you to delete again, or simply edit/fix if necessary.  I was just thinking the renumbering might have additional uses.


I imagine it isn't a common problem, but I thought I'd mention a possible self-help option.

GMs have an option to Purge a thread, it would be useful for them to be able to Purge a post too.

*nods in agreement*

GMs already do have the option to purge a post.

If the user deletes the post, it's left so the GM can see.  If the GM deletes it, it is gone.

It does not, however, renumber the messages.

Although you can't appear to delete a post when you have two of them are showing as the same msg number.



Hence, if there was a process that would renumber them, that would presumably create a self-service means of fixing the above issue.

Afraid you presume wrong.  The issue is not with the number, but with the post itself.  The duplicate numbers are a result of the issue, not its cause.
This message was last edited by the user at 16:11, Fri 08 May 2015.

The cause was the browser hiccuped and we got double post... the visible manifestation is that you can see two posts that have the same post number... and attempts to delete the post don't work... presumably because it realizes that it isn't clear which of the two indicated posts is the one you want to delete.  It allows you to edit the first one if you try to edit either of the posts, but it won't let you delete it.

My idea was to create a means that would solve this... in the rare instances it occurs.  I'm fairly certain I've seen it before, but not certain it was me or someone else.  But I was trying to think of a feature that would enable GMs to fix the issue themselves, which might have other uses as well. [like fixing the view all option for a thread that got over 1000 before it got archived.

Potentially, in my case, I could self-fix by copying all the contents of all the posts, and rebuilding the thread... with only a few posts that would be doable.  However it may throw off the player's posting count.  Any more than a handful of posts however would make that really unmanageable.  Hence trying to think of other options.

But it's a flaw in the post itself that prevents you deleting it, not the number of the post.  If you renumber one of the posts, you just end up with two identical posts, but with different numbers.

Once they have different numbers though, wouldn't you be able to delete one?

No, because the number isn't the problem.  The post is the problem.

But in this case... I have two non-identical posts... because I have changed one of them to have different content.  So I can access the first... I just can't access the second.  But I can't delete either.

As I said, the posts are the problem, not the numbers attached to them.  Renumbering them won't change anything except the numbers.

Also the ability to renumber posts in a thread would break any links set up to those posts.  So might seem a good idea in the context of duplicate posts, but generally a baaad plan.  ;>

Actually, the issue with double (triple etc) posts (the ones GMs users can't just delete) is that all of the posts have the same message number.  They're supposed to be unique, and the system can't handle it as it cannot uniquely identify the post you're after.

Similarly, being able to renumber posts won't solve this issue either, as you'll run afoul of the same duplicate post ID issue.

Renumbering posts will, as Skald mentioned, break links, but it will also mess up the chronological order of the posts which (if you move the last post in a thread to not be the last) will break thread read/unread tracking.  Certain assumptions are made when threads are displayed, such as the last message in the thread is the last message that was posted to the thread.

Post links aren't an insurmountable problem (you just have to be aware that it will break them) and background calculations can (probably) overcome the break in chronological order, but it's not as easy as it sounds.  Lack of testers we have also means that new versions are very slow to test and roll out (without increasing the chance of bugs).

And part of that Problem [lack of testers] is an inability to discover issues in actual play on the beta site.  It has nothing to do with site issue and more to do with no players, willing/knowing to play a game there.  ? A thought; Am I able to advertise in off site game a Beta site game?